US rice company Riviana Foods has announced that its president and CEO, Joseph A. Hafner Jr., is to retire, effective immediately, after 33 years with the company.

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Hafner will assume a new role as non-executive chairman of Riviana’s board. W. David Hanks, executive vice president, has been named to succeed Hafner as president and CEO.


Houston, Texas-based Riviana Foods makes and distributes branded and private-label rice products in the United States. Its principal brands include Mahatma, Carolina and Success. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spanish food group Ebro Puleva.

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